Reusable food container with an integrated cup

ABSTRACT

A reusable food container includes a base tray, an auxiliary tray stackable atop the base tray and a removable lid for the auxiliary tray. The base tray includes at least one food receptacle and an integrated cup projecting beyond the remainder of the base tray. The auxiliary tray includes at least one food receptacle, and defines a relief that, with the auxiliary tray stacked atop the base tray, accommodates the base tray&#39;s cup.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/301,121, filed on Feb. 29, 2016, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to reusable foodcontainers.

BACKGROUND

People often pack food in reusable food containers for storage ortransport, or both. With the typical food container, when food is packedfor transport, an accompanying drink must be separately packed andtransported.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are embodiments of reusable food containers withintegrated cups. In one aspect, a reusable food container includes abase tray, an auxiliary tray stackable atop the base tray and aremovable lid for the auxiliary tray. The base tray includes at leastone food receptacle and an integrated cup projecting beyond theremainder of the base tray. The auxiliary tray includes at least onefood receptacle, and defines a relief that, with the auxiliary traystacked atop the base tray, accommodates the base tray's cup. This andother aspects will be described in additional detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features, advantages and other uses of the presentembodiments will become more apparent by referring to the followingdetailed description and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reusable food container, showing,among other things, a base tray, an auxiliary tray stacked atop the basetray and a removable lid for the auxiliary tray;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the food container, showing the base trayincluding a food receptacle and a cup, and the auxiliary tray includinga food receptacle and a relief that accommodates the base tray's cup;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the food container taken along theline 3-3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is another cross sectional view of the food container taken alongthe line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A reusable food container 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-4. The food container10 may be used to pack food and an accompanying drink for transport. Thefood container 10 includes a base tray 12, one or more auxiliary trays14 stackable atop the base tray 12 and a removable lid 16 for thetopmost auxiliary tray 14.

The base tray 12 includes a food receptacle 20 and a cup 22. Food, suchas food included as part of a meal, may be packed in the food receptacle20. An accompanying drink may be packed, separately from this food, inthe cup 22.

The base tray 12 is a generally open-ended structure. The base tray 12has, as its base, a bottom 30, on which the cup 22, upright exteriorwalls 32 and optional upright interior walls 34 are supported. These andother parts of the base tray 12, if any, may be made as a unitary whole,or may be made separately. Separately made parts of the base tray 12 maybe removably interconnected or irremovably interconnected usingadhesives or joining techniques such as ultrasonic welding, for example.The parts of the base tray 12, whether made as a unitary whole orseparately, may be composed of a recyclable polymeric material suitablefor injection molding, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),although the parts of the base tray 12 could be composed of additionalor alternative materials.

The cup 22 has the requisite structure for holding a drink or otherliquid in the space inside the cup 22, while being otherwise open toaccommodate its filling. The cup 22 may, for example, have a closedbottom 40, an open distal portion 42 opposite the bottom 40 and anupright sidewall 44 with a closed cross section extending between thebottom 40 and the open distal portion 42. With its bottom 40 andsidewall 44, the cup 22 is structured to prevent commingling between adrink held in the cup 22 and food held in the food receptacle 20, aswell as leakage from the base tray 12.

The bottom 40 of the cup 22, as well as the remainder of the cup 22, maybe located centrally or otherwise within the footprint of the bottom 30of the base tray 12. In these configurations, the bottom 40 of the cup22 may be a whole or partial portion of the bottom 30 of the base tray12 from which the sidewall 44 of the cup 22 extends. Otherwise, thebottom 40 of the cup 22 could be another part of the base tray 12dedicated to the cup 22. With the bottom 40 of the cup 22 locatedcentrally within the footprint of the bottom 30 of the base tray 12, thebottom 40 of the cup 22 may be a partial, central portion of the bottom30 of the base tray 12 from which the sidewall 44 of the cup 22 extends.This leaves the remaining portion of the bottom 30 of the base tray 12bordering the sidewall 44 of the cup 22.

The sidewall 44 of the cup 22, although shown with a substantiallycircular cross section, could alternatively have an oval, oblong orpolygonal cross section, for example. In these or other configurations,the sidewall 44 of the cup 22 may be outwardly tapered, inwardly taperedor, as shown, generally untapered. As shown, the sidewall 44 of the cup22 may be double layered with an internal liner 46, or otherwisemultilayered to, for instance, improve the thermal insulationperformance of the cup 22. Alternatively, the sidewall 44 of the cup 22could be single layered.

At the termination of its sidewall 44, the cup 22 has a lip 50 thatframes its open distal portion 42. The cup 22 may have an associatedcover 52 for covering the open distal portion 42 of the cup 22. Thecover 52 is shaped for placement across the open distal portion 42 ofthe cup 22. The cover 52 may moreover be configured for removableconnection to the lip 50 of the cup 22. Either the lip 50 of the cup 22or the cover 52, or both, may have features for making a seal betweenthe lip 50 of the cup 22 and the cover 52. For example, either the lip50 of the cup 22 or the cover 52, or both, may include a resilientsealing compound that affects a seal between the lip 50 of the cup 22and the cover 52 when the cover 52 is connected to the lip 50 of the cup22. As shown, the cover 52 may define an interior, cross slit strawopening 54 to provide a straw access to a drink held in the space insidethe cup 22.

Similarly to the cup 22, the food receptacle 20 has the requisitestructure for holding food in the space inside the food receptacle 20,while being otherwise open to accommodate the food's placement in thefood receptacle 20. In the base tray 12, the exterior walls 32 flank thesidewall 44 of the cup 22. With this configuration, the food receptacle20 may, for example, have a closed bottom 56, an open distal portion 60opposite the bottom 56 and both the exterior walls 32 and the sidewall44 of the cup 22 extending between the bottom 56 and the open distalportion 60. With its bottom 56, the exterior walls 32 and the sidewall44 of the cup 22, the food receptacle 20 is structured to preventcommingling between food held in the food receptacle 20 and a drink heldin the cup 22, as well as leakage from the base tray 12.

In the configuration where the bottom 40 of the cup 22 is a partialportion of the bottom 30 of the base tray 12 from which the sidewall 44of the cup 22 extends, the bottom 56 of the food receptacle 20 may bethe remaining portion of the bottom 30 of the base tray 12.

Collectively, the exterior walls 32 have a cross section. With thebottom 40 of the cup 22 located centrally within the footprint of thebottom 30 of the base tray 12, the exterior walls 32 may, for example,surround the sidewall 44 of the cup 22, and their cross section mayaccordingly be closed. The exterior walls 32, although shown with asubstantially racetrack shaped cross section, could alternatively have acircular, oval, oblong or polygonal cross section, for example. In theseor other configurations, the exterior walls 32 may be outwardly tapered,inwardly tapered or, as shown, generally untapered. As shown, theexterior walls 32 may be single layered. Alternatively, the exteriorwalls 32 could be double layered or otherwise multilayered to, forinstance, improve their thermal insulation performance.

The exterior walls 32 generally terminate in a common plane orientedtransverse to the base tray 12. At the termination of its exterior walls32, the base tray 12 has a perimeter lip 62. The perimeter lip 62 of thebase tray 12 frames, at least in part, the open distal portion 60 of thefood receptacle 20. The shape of the perimeter lip 62 of the base tray12 generally corresponds to the shape of the cross section of itsexterior walls 32. With its exterior walls 32 having a substantiallyracetrack shaped cross section, for example, the perimeter lip 62 of thebase tray 12 is substantially racetrack shaped.

In the base tray 12, the interior walls 34 may divide the space insidethe food receptacle 20 into a number of smaller spaces. The interiorwalls 34 may, as shown, connect to the bottom 56 of the food receptacle20, and between the exterior walls 32 and the sidewall 44 of the cup 22,for example. The interior walls 34 may be generally closed to preventdifferent food held in the respective smaller spaces from commingling.Additionally or alternatively, the interior walls 34 may structurallyreinforce the base tray 12.

The cup 22 is interconnected with the remaining parts of the base tray12. In other words, the cup 22 is integrated with the base tray 12. Inprofile, however, the cup 22 projects beyond the remainder of the basetray 12. Particularly, in the base tray 12, while the food receptacle 20has one shared, lower portion 70 of the sidewall 44 of the cup 22,another unshared, upper portion 72 of the sidewall 44 of the cup 22projects beyond the food receptacle 20, past the perimeter lip 62 of thebase tray 12 that frames its open distal portion 60.

The auxiliary tray 14 provides additional space for holding foodseparately from the food packed in the food receptacle 20 of the basetray 12. Although the food container 10 is shown with one auxiliary tray14 stacked atop the base tray 12, with the lid 16 being for the oneauxiliary tray 14, it will be understood that that this description isapplicable in principle to an otherwise similar food container 10 withadditional, similar auxiliary trays 14 stacked atop the base tray 12, inwhich case the lid 16 would be for the topmost auxiliary tray 14.

The auxiliary tray 14 may be stacked atop the base tray 12 to cover theopen distal portion 60 of its food receptacle 20. The auxiliary tray 14includes a food receptacle 80 and defines a relief 82. Food, such asfood included as part of a meal, may be packed in the food receptacle80. With the auxiliary tray 14 stacked atop the base tray 12, the relief82 accommodates the cup 22 of the base tray 12.

The auxiliary tray 14 is a generally open-ended structure. The auxiliarytray 14 has, as its base, a bottom 90, on which upright exterior walls92 and optional upright interior walls 94 are supported. These and otherparts of the auxiliary tray 14, if any, may be made as a unitary whole,or may be made separately. Separately made parts of the auxiliary tray14 may be removably interconnected or irremovably interconnected usingadhesives or joining techniques such as ultrasonic welding, for example.The parts of the auxiliary tray 14, whether made as a unitary whole orseparately, may be composed of a recyclable polymeric material suitablefor injection molding, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),although the parts of the auxiliary tray 14 could be composed ofadditional or alternative materials.

In the food container 10, the base tray 12 defines a seat for theauxiliary tray 14, on which the auxiliary tray 14 may be supported tostack the auxiliary tray 14 atop the base tray 12. As shown, the basetray 12 defines its seat for the auxiliary tray 14 at its perimeter lip62. The perimeter of the bottom 90 of the auxiliary tray 14, at thejunction between it and the exterior walls 92 of the auxiliary tray 14,is supported on the seat of the base tray 12. With this configuration,the shape of the perimeter of the bottom 90 of the auxiliary tray 14generally corresponds to the shape of the perimeter lip 62 of the basetray 12 that defines its seat. With the perimeter lip 62 of the basetray 12 being substantially racetrack shaped, for example, the shape ofthe perimeter of the bottom 90 of the auxiliary tray 14 is substantiallyracetrack shaped.

With the auxiliary tray 14 stacked atop the base tray 12, the bottom 90of the auxiliary tray 14, inside its perimeter, is shaped for placementacross the open distal portion 60 of the food receptacle 20 of the basetray 12. The auxiliary tray 14 accordingly covers the open distalportion 60 of the food receptacle 20 of the base tray 12. Either theseat of the base tray 12 or the perimeter of the bottom 90 of theauxiliary tray 14, or both, may have features for making a seal betweenthe seat of the base tray 12 and the perimeter of the bottom 90 of theauxiliary tray 14. For example, either the seat of the base tray 12 orthe perimeter of the bottom 90 of the auxiliary tray 14, or both, mayinclude a resilient sealing compound that affects a seal between theseat of the base tray 12 and the perimeter of the bottom 90 of theauxiliary tray 14 when the auxiliary tray 14 is stacked atop the basetray 12.

The relief 82 is an opening in the auxiliary tray 14 that, with theauxiliary tray 14 stacked atop the base tray 12, frees the space neededto accommodate the upper portion 72 of the sidewall 44 of the cup 22that projects beyond the remainder of the base tray 12. This space maybe the space otherwise occupied by the auxiliary tray 14 if the bottom90 of the auxiliary tray 14, inside its perimeter, was shaped forplacement across the entire base tray 12 instead of only the open distalportion 60 of its food receptacle 20.

In the configuration where the bottom 40 of the cup 22 is locatedcentrally within the footprint of the bottom 30 of the base tray 12, forexample, the relief 82 may be a hole defined centrally through thebottom 90 of the auxiliary tray 14. With the auxiliary tray 14 stackedatop the base tray 12, the upper portion 72 of the sidewall 44 of thecup 22 that projects beyond the remainder of the base tray 12 may extendthrough this hole. This hole may have a cross section corresponding tothe cross section of the sidewall 44 of the cup 22 of the base tray 12.This hole may, for example, have a substantially circular cross sectioncorresponding to the substantially circular cross section of thesidewall 44 of the cup 22 of the base tray 12.

The auxiliary tray 14 may have a sleeve 100 that frames its relief 82and, with the auxiliary tray 14 stacked atop the base tray 12, collarsthe upper portion 72 of the sidewall 44 of the cup 22 that projectsbeyond the remainder of the base tray 12. In the configuration where therelief 82 is a hole defined centrally through the bottom 90 of theauxiliary tray 14, the auxiliary tray 14 may, for example, have anannular sleeve 100 that extends from the portion of the bottom 90 of theauxiliary tray 14 bordering this hole. This sleeve 100, similarly to thehole defined centrally through the bottom 90 of the auxiliary tray 14,may have a cross section corresponding to the cross section of thesidewall 44 of the cup 22 of the base tray 12. This sleeve 100 may, forexample, have a substantially circular cross section corresponding tothe substantially circular cross section of the sidewall 44 of the cup22 of the base tray 12. In these or other configurations, the sleeve 100may be outwardly tapered, inwardly tapered or, as shown, generallyuntapered.

The food receptacle 80 has the requisite structure for holding food inthe space inside the food receptacle 80, while being otherwise open toaccommodate the food's placement in the food receptacle 80. In theauxiliary tray 14, the exterior walls 92 flank the relief 82 and thesleeve 100 that frames the relief 82. With this configuration, the foodreceptacle 80 may, for example, have the bottom 90, an open distalportion 102 opposite the bottom 90, and both the exterior walls 92 andthe sleeve 100 extending between the bottom 90 and the open distalportion 102. With the bottom 90, the exterior walls 92 and the sleeve100, the food receptacle 80 is structured to prevent leakage from theauxiliary tray 14.

Collectively, the exterior walls 92 have a cross section. In theconfiguration where the relief 82 is a hole defined centrally throughthe bottom 90 of the auxiliary tray 14, the exterior walls 92 may, forexample, surround the sleeve 100 that frames the relief 82, and theircross section may accordingly be closed. With the auxiliary tray 14stacked atop the base tray 12, the exterior walls 92 of the auxiliarytray 14 may be generally contiguous with the exterior walls 32 of thebase tray 12. The exterior walls 92, for example, may have asubstantially racetrack shaped cross section corresponding to thesubstantially racetrack shaped cross section of the exterior walls 32 ofthe base tray 12. Similarly to the exterior walls 32 of the base tray12, the exterior walls 92 may be outwardly tapered, inwardly tapered or,as shown, generally untapered. As shown, the exterior walls 92 may besingle layered. Alternatively, the exterior walls 92 could be doublelayered or otherwise multilayered to, for instance, improve theirthermal insulation performance.

The exterior walls 92 generally terminate in a common plane orientedtransverse to the auxiliary tray 14. At the termination of its exteriorwalls 92, the auxiliary tray 14 has a perimeter lip 104. The perimeterlip 104 of the auxiliary tray 14 frames, at least in part, the opendistal portion 102 of the food receptacle 80. The shape of the perimeterlip 104 of the auxiliary tray 14 generally corresponds to the shape ofthe cross section of its exterior walls 92. With its exterior walls 92having a substantially racetrack shaped cross section, for example, theperimeter lip 104 of the auxiliary tray 14 is substantially racetrackshaped.

In the auxiliary tray 14, the interior walls 94 may divide the spaceinside the food receptacle 80 into a number of smaller spaces. Theinterior walls 94 may, as shown, connect to the bottom 90 of theauxiliary tray 14, and between its exterior walls 92 and its sleeve 100,for example. The interior walls 94 may be generally closed to preventdifferent food held in the respective smaller spaces from commingling.Additionally or alternatively, the interior walls 94 may structurallyreinforce the auxiliary tray 14.

The lid 16 for the auxiliary tray 14 covers the open distal portion 102of its food receptacle 80. In the food container 10, the auxiliary tray14 defines a seat for the lid 16, on which the lid 16 may be supported.As shown, the auxiliary tray 14 defines its seat for the lid 16 at itsperimeter lip 104, and the perimeter of the lid 16 is supported on theseat of the auxiliary tray 14. With this configuration, the shape of theperimeter of the lid 16 generally corresponds to the shape of theperimeter lip 104 of the auxiliary tray 14 that defines its seat. Withthe perimeter lip 104 of the auxiliary tray 14 being substantiallyracetrack shaped, for example, the shape of the perimeter of the lid 16is substantially racetrack shaped.

The lid 16, inside its perimeter, is shaped for placement across theopen distal portion 102 of the food receptacle 80 of the auxiliary tray14. The lid 16 accordingly covers the open distal portion 102 of thefood receptacle 80 of the auxiliary tray 14. The lid 16 may, as shown,be shaped for placement across the entire auxiliary tray 14 instead ofonly the open distal portion 102 of its food receptacle 80. The lid 16may accordingly, in addition to covering the open distal portion 102 ofthe food receptacle 80 of the auxiliary tray 14, cover and engage thecover 52 of the cup 22 to reinforce its connection to the lip 50 of thecup 22. Either the seat of the auxiliary tray 14 or the perimeter of thelid 16, or both, may have features for making a seal between the seat ofthe auxiliary tray 14 and the perimeter of the lid 16. For example,either the seat of the auxiliary tray 14 or the perimeter of the lid 16,or both, may include a resilient sealing compound that affects a sealbetween the seat of the auxiliary tray 14 and the perimeter of the lid16.

In the food container 10, with the auxiliary tray 14 stacked atop thebase tray 12, the lid 16 is configured for removable connection to thebase tray 12 to both connect itself to the base tray 12 and sandwich theauxiliary tray 14 between itself and the base tray 12. The lid 16 may,as shown, include a latch 110 including an arm 112 pivotally coupled tothe lid 16, and a claw 114 supported by the arm 112 configured forremovable connection to the base tray 12.

While recited characteristics and conditions of the invention have beendescribed in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodimentsbut, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications andequivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of theappended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalentstructures as is permitted under the law.

1. A reusable food container, comprising: a base tray, the base trayincluding a food receptacle and an integrated cup projecting beyond theremainder of the base tray; an auxiliary tray stackable atop the basetray, the auxiliary tray including a food receptacle, and defining arelief that, with the auxiliary tray stacked atop the base tray,accommodates the base tray's cup; and a removable lid for the auxiliarytray.
 2. The reusable food container of claim 1, wherein the cup of thebase tray is centrally located within the footprint of a bottom of thebase tray, and the relief of the auxiliary tray is centrally definedthrough a bottom of the auxiliary tray.
 3. The reusable food containerof claim 1, wherein, in the base tray, the food receptacle and at leasta portion of the cup are made as a unitary whole.
 4. The reusable foodcontainer of claim 1, wherein the base tray further includes a removablecover for the cup.
 5. The reusable food container of claim 1, whereinthe lid is configured for removable connection to the base tray when theauxiliary tray is stacked atop the base tray, whereby the auxiliary trayis sandwiched between the base tray and the lid.
 6. A reusable foodcontainer, comprising: a base tray, the base tray including a bottom,upright exterior walls extending from the bottom and terminating at aperimeter lip, and an upright, closed cross sectional sidewall extendingfrom the bottom, in a flanked relationship with the exterior walls, pastthe perimeter lip of the exterior walls and terminating at a lip,whereby an integrated cup is defined at least in part by the sidewall,and has an open distal portion framed by the lip of the sidewall, a foodreceptacle is defined at least in part by a portion of the bottombordering the sidewall and the exterior walls, and has an open distalportion framed by the perimeter lip of the exterior walls, and a seat isdefined at the perimeter lip of the exterior walls.
 7. The reusable foodcontainer of claim 6, wherein the sidewall extends from a centralportion of the bottom, and the exterior walls are closed cross sectionaland surround the sidewall.
 8. The reusable food container of claim 6,wherein the cup is further defined at least in part by a partial portionof the bottom from which the sidewall extends, and the portion of thebottom bordering the sidewall and defining the food receptacle is aremaining portion of the bottom.
 9. The reusable food container of claim6, wherein the sidewall is double layered.
 10. The reusable foodcontainer of claim 6, wherein the bottom, the exterior walls and atleast a portion of the sidewall are made as a unitary whole.
 11. Thereusable food container of claim 6, wherein the base tray furtherincludes a cover configured for removable connection to the lip of thesidewall to cover the open distal portion of the cup, and at least oneof the lip of the sidewall and the cover is configured to affect a sealtherebetween when the cover is connected to the lip of the sidewall. 12.The reusable food container of claim 6, further comprising: an auxiliarytray, the auxiliary tray including a bottom corresponding to the opendistal portion of the food receptacle of the base tray and uprightexterior walls extending from the bottom and terminating at a perimeterlip, and defining a relief corresponding to the sidewall of the basetray, whereby a food receptacle is defined at least in part by thebottom and the exterior walls, and has an open distal portion framed bythe perimeter lip of the exterior walls, the auxiliary tray is stackableatop the base tray by accommodating the sidewall of the base tray in therelief and supporting a perimeter of the bottom on the seat of the basetray to thereby cover, via the bottom, the open distal portion of thefood receptacle of the base tray, and a seat is defined at the perimeterlip of the exterior walls.
 13. The reusable food container of claim 12,wherein at least one of the seat of the base tray and the perimeter ofthe bottom of the auxiliary tray is configured to affect a sealtherebetween when the auxiliary tray is stacked atop the base tray. 14.The reusable food container of claim 12, wherein, in the auxiliary tray,the relief is defined through the bottom.
 15. The reusable foodcontainer of claim 14, wherein the auxiliary tray further includes asleeve extending from the bottom in a framing relationship with therelief, whereby the sleeve collars a portion of the sidewall of the basetray when the auxiliary tray is stacked atop the base tray.
 16. Thereusable food container of claim 15, wherein, in the auxiliary tray, therelief is defined through a central portion of the bottom, and theexterior walls are closed cross sectional and surround the sleeve. 17.The reusable food container of claim 12, further comprising: a removablelid, the lid corresponding to the open distal portion of the foodreceptacle of the auxiliary tray, whereby a perimeter of the lid issupportable on the seat of the auxiliary tray to thereby cover the opendistal portion of the food receptacle of the auxiliary tray and the opendistal portion of the cup of the base tray, and configured for removableconnection to the base tray when the auxiliary tray is stacked atop thebase tray, whereby the auxiliary tray is sandwiched between the basetray and the lid.
 18. The reusable food container of claim 17, whereinat least one of the seat of the auxiliary tray and the perimeter of thelid is configured to affect a seal therebetween when the auxiliary trayis stacked atop the base tray and the lid is connected to the base tray.19. The reusable food container of claim 17, wherein the base trayfurther includes a cover configured for removable connection to the lipof the sidewall to cover the open distal portion of the cup, and the lidis configured to engage the cover when the auxiliary tray is stackedatop the base tray and the lid is connected to the base tray.
 20. Areusable food container, comprising: a base tray, the base trayincluding a bottom, upright exterior walls extending from the bottom andterminating at a perimeter lip, and an upright, closed cross sectionalsidewall extending from the bottom, in a flanked relationship with theexterior walls, past the perimeter lip of the exterior walls andterminating at a lip, wherein the bottom, the exterior walls and atleast a portion of the sidewall extending past the perimeter lip of theexterior walls are made as a unitary whole, whereby an integrated cup isdefined at least in part by the sidewall, and has an open distal portionframed by the lip of the sidewall, a food receptacle is defined at leastin part by a portion of the bottom bordering the sidewall and theexterior walls, and has an open distal portion framed by the perimeterlip of the exterior walls, and a seat is defined at the perimeter lip ofthe exterior walls an auxiliary tray, the auxiliary tray including abottom corresponding to the open distal portion of the food receptacleof the base tray and upright exterior walls extending from the bottomand terminating at a perimeter lip, defining a relief through the bottomcorresponding to the sidewall of the base tray, and including a sleeveextending from the bottom in a framing relationship with the relief,whereby a food receptacle is defined at least in part by the bottom andthe exterior walls, and has an open distal portion framed by theperimeter lip of the exterior walls, the auxiliary tray is stackableatop the base tray by accommodating the sidewall of the base tray in therelief, with the sleeve collaring a portion of the sidewall of the basetray, and supporting a perimeter of the bottom on the seat of the basetray to thereby cover, via the bottom, the open distal portion of thefood receptacle of the base tray, and a seat is defined at the perimeterlip of the exterior walls; and a removable lid, the lid corresponding tothe open distal portion of the food receptacle of the auxiliary tray,whereby a perimeter of the lid is supportable on the seat of theauxiliary tray to thereby cover the open distal portion of the foodreceptacle of the auxiliary tray and the open distal portion of the cupof the base tray, and configured for removable connection to the basetray when the auxiliary tray is stacked atop the base tray, whereby theauxiliary tray is sandwiched between the base tray and the lid.